Shaffer Dominated Speedweek Feature at K-C Raceway

Posted on June 21, 2010

CHILLICOTHE, OHIO – (6-19-10) – By Brian Liskai – Aliquippa, Pennsylvania’s
Tim Shaffer put on a sprint car driving clinic Saturday at KC Raceway on
night #2 of the Ohio Sprint Speedweek. The defending champion and current
point leader of the O’Reilly Auto Parts All Star Circuit of Champions
dominated the 30 lap feature. And, unlike the previous night when he ran
out of fuel while leading, he had such a commanding lead Saturday, he could
have coasted around the track to victory lane.

Shaffer and former KC Raceway champion Todd Kane paced the field to the
green. On the initial start Kyle Sauder got sideways in front of the field,
causing Tyler Walker and Mitch Harble to collide, ending their night while
Sauder never stopped. Shaffer blasted into the lead in his Aaron Call,
Janet Holbrook owned machine on the restart, quickly building a sizeable
lead. Four-time Ohio Speedweek champion Dale Blaney and Kane would grapple
for second, with Blaney utilizing the low line to take the spot by lap 7.

Ron Blair clipped the front stretch wall on lap 11 but was able to continue
as other drivers took evasive action. By this time, Shaffer had nine lapped
machines separating him from Blaney, who was now having to contend with
Brandon Wimmer for the runner-up spot. The two swapped the position lap
after lap, with Wimmer driving Rick Ferkel’s #0 into second with a slide
job on lap 17.

The first caution would fly on lap 23 when Cale Conley made contact with
another car, spinning on the front stretch, with former KC champion Keith
Baxter also stopping exiting turn four. The large crowd’s eyes were glued
to former KC owner Jim Neir, who started back in the 24th position, and had
worked his way up to 9th.On the restart, Shaffer had five lapped machines
between himself and Wimmer. The “Steel City Outlaw” used the clean air to
pull away to another commanding lead. Meanwhile, Wimmer and Blaney
continued their torrid battle, with Blaney executing a slide job on lap 27
for second, while Neir continued to march forward.

Shaffer would drive away to his second All Star win of 2010 with Blaney
taking second, Wimmer third, Sauder fourth and David Gravel fifth. Neir
would end up sixth in the final run-down.

“This is the first time I’ve won here…it’s awesome. I had such a great
car…I couldn’t let the guys down with starting on the pole. We’ve been
having some tough times, but this really helps out. It’s awesome to be in
victory lane with family here,” said Shaffer beside his Technique Roofing,
Kistler Engines, Kistler Racing Products backed #83. “With the wall around
here, you hear an echo and it makes you think there’s a car close to you so
I just ran it as hard as I could.

It marked Shaffer’s 21st career victory with the O’Reilly Auto Parts All
Star Circuit of Champions.

Blaney indicated after about four laps into the race he knew he was racing
for second.

“The car was good the first four laps…this was my type of track, wide and
slick, but for some reason we just weren’t very good anywhere on the track
after that. We just missed the set-up. We didn’t have anything for Tim.
Brandon (Wimmer) is just very good on a slick, smooth track so fortunately
we were able to get the pass late for second,” said Blaney beside his Ti22
Performance backed #2.

Wimmer enjoyed his battle with Blaney for second.

“That was a blast. When I got by Dale I knew we were close to the front but
Shaffer was just out of sight. Toward the end the car got a little loose,
but this is a great run. Rick (Ferkel) and all the guys work so hard on
this thing and I’m glad I could bring them a top three,” said Wimmer beside
his Shorty’s Truck Repair, Smith’s Farm backed #0.